Kafelnikov was born in
Sochi then part of the
RSFSR of
Soviet Union.He turned professional in 1992 and won his first top-level singles title in
Adelaide in 1994.
In 1995, Kafelnikov defeated World No. 1
Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals of the French Open before losing to eventual champion
Thomas Muster in the semi-finals.
A year later, in 1996, Kafelnikov captured both the men's singles and the men's doubles titles at the French Open. In the semis, Kafelnikov eliminated
Pete Sampras, and then in the final beat former
Wimbledon champion
Michael Stich in straight sets 7-6, 7-5, 7-6.
In 1997, Kafelnikov won the men's doubles titles at both the French Open and the
US Open.
In 1999, Kafelnikov won his second Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. He defeated
Thomas Enqvist in four sets in the final. In May that year, he reached the World No. 1 men's singles ranking. However, he lost seven straight matches thereafter, and relinquished the No. 1 ranking after six weeks.
Kafelnikov was in the Australian Open final again in 2000, but was defeated in four sets by Andre Agassi. That summer, he won the men's singles Gold Medal for Russia at the
Sydney Olympic Games. In the final, he defeated
Tommy Haas of
Germany in an exciting five-set match 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
In 2002, Kafelnikov was part of the Russian team that won the
Davis Cup for the first time. In Russia's semi-final win over
Argentina, Kafelnikov saved two match points in a singles rubber against
Gastón Gaudio; he won the five-set, four-hour and ten-minute match 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 8-6. The following day, he partnered
Marat Safin in the longest doubles match in Davis Cup history. The pair eventually lost the six-hour and 20-minute match 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 17-19. Russia eventually overcame Argentina 3-2, and went on to defeat
France 3-2 in the final.
Kafelnikov won his third French Open men's doubles title in 2002. He reached the French Open men's doubles final for the fourth time in
2003, when he finished runner-up.
In 2003, betting on a Yevgeny Kafelnikov match in Lyon, France, was suspended when an ominously large wager was made on his opponent, Fernando Vicente, loser of his previous 12 matches. Vicente won in straight sets.
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/sports/tennis/07araton.html
Kafelnikov retired from the professional tour in 2004, having won 26 singles and 27 doubles titles.
